Clergy at Portlaoise parish were “amazed” as over €16,000 was raised for Trócaire’s emergency East Africa appeal – five times more than they would receive in a normal week.
The parish usually get €3,000 each week from their offertory collection, but this was far surpassed by the collection held late last month. Msgr John Byrne of Portlaoise parish described it as “an extraordinarily generous response”.
“I think they just responded with their hearts and made a very generous response to something that isn’t getting a huge amount of publicity,” he said.
While over 25 million people face starvation due to drought and civil conflict, the world is focused on US president Donald Trump and Brexit according to the Catholic charity Trócaire, who have thanked parishes all over Ireland for their generous response to the East Africa crisis.
Portlaoise parish gave a full page to publicise the emergency appeal in their newsletter Link Up, and Msgr Byrne said “it was contributed by people who are attending our masses and I think it was a very generous response by the worshipping community in Portlaoise”.
Minority
He added that the worshipping community is now “a minority community” in Ireland, and said: “I feel, well certainly among that community that made the contribution, I think they believe and trust that the money that they contribute will make a difference, and will find tactical expression in that crisis area”.
For the duration of Trócaire’s Lenten Appeal the parish raised €20,000, which highlights the generous response of parishioners made over the short emergency response period.
Both the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Council and President Michael D. Higgins encouraged donations, with the President saying: “Irish Aid and the Irish NGOs and missionary organisations are already providing highly effective assistance to millions of people across the region. But a response at greater scale is required.”
Trócaire cannot yet confirm the full amount collected as it is still being counted.